The relative movement of adjacent tectonic plates can be categorized as either a divergent, convergent or transform boundary. In this activity, students will create a storyboard to illustrate the different types of interactions between tectonic plates. Students should be encouraged to provide examples of each type of interaction.
At a divergent boundary, the plates move apart from each other. This is also know as a constructive boundary because new lithosphere is made. At a convergent boundary, the plates move closer together. When the boundary is between a continental plate and oceanic plate or between two oceanic plates, the denser oceanic plate will travel underneath the less dense plate. This is called subduction. At a transform plate boundary, the plates don’t move closer together or further away, but move past each other.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows the different types of interactions that can occur when two tectonic plates meet.
Gather simple materials like clay, cardboard, or sponges to let students physically model divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries. Hands-on learning helps students visualize and remember how tectonic plates interact.
Divide your class into groups of 3–5 students to foster collaboration and encourage peer discussion. Group work boosts engagement and helps students learn from each other.
Instruct each group to use their materials to create models of divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries. Label each type and have students demonstrate the direction and result of movement.
Invite each group to present their models and explain the type of plate interaction they built. Encouraging students to teach others helps reinforce their own understanding.
Discuss as a class where these plate boundaries occur in the world (e.g., Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Himalayas, San Andreas Fault). Making real-world connections deepens student understanding.
The three main types of tectonic plate boundaries are divergent (plates move apart), convergent (plates move together), and transform (plates slide past each other). Each type leads to different geological features and events.
Students can create a storyboard by drawing three panels: one for divergent boundaries (plates moving apart), one for convergent boundaries (plates moving together or subducting), and one for transform boundaries (plates sliding past each other). Each panel should include labels and a brief description.
A well-known example of a divergent plate boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American plates are moving apart, forming new oceanic crust.
At a convergent boundary between an oceanic and a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate is forced beneath the continental plate in a process called subduction, often creating volcanic activity and deep ocean trenches.
Transform boundaries differ because plates slide past each other horizontally rather than moving apart or together. This movement can cause earthquakes, but does not typically create or destroy crust.